Adriana Barraza

Adriana Barraza was an established actor, producer and director in her native Mexico and in the Spanish-language television world before coming to American attention in acclaimed dramas from fellow co...
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Writer and actress Lena Dunham has become a target of some high-profile New York Jews following the publication of a questionable article about cultural stereotypes in The New Yorker.
In the piece, titled Dog Or Jewish Boyfriend? A Quiz, the Girls creator, whose mother is Jewish, asks readers to decide whether the statements she makes in the article apply to her Jewish boyfriend, Jack Antonoff, or their pet dog. She then lists things like, "He doesn't tip", and "I feel that he is judgmental about the food I serve him", adding, "This is because he comes from a culture in which mothers focus every ounce of their attention on their offspring and don't acknowledge their own need for independence as women. They are sucked dry by their children, who ultimately leave them as soon as they find suitable mates."
The piece has upset many prominent Jews, including Jordana Horn, who has responded to Dunham's article on website Kveller, stating, "I suppose Lena Dunham feels that she has some sort of humor EZ Pass, and The New Yorker has indulged her in that thinking... because apparently Jews are a group you can make fun of and it is deemed kinda intellectual and funny to do so."
She adds, "If you take issue with what I'm saying, then do me a favour and imagine this same essay entitled, 'Dog or Black Boyfriend? A Quiz.' Much easier to imagine that essay running in a Ku Klux Klan newsletter than The New Yorker, am I right? But somehow, a piece like this running in The New Yorker in 2015 is supposed to be OK with us."
Meanwhile, one Twitter user, writes, "@NewYorker Wow. Do you post every piece of anti-Semitic drivel that gets submitted, or only if its written by @lenadunham?"
The piece has also been attacked by Anti-Defamation League officials - National Chairman Abraham H. Foxman was not happy with the stereotypes in Dunham's piece and stated the dog comparison evoked memories of "the 'No Jews or Dogs Allowed' signs from our own early history in this country."
The New Yorker's editor David Remnick has defended his guest writer, stating, "The Jewish-comic tradition is rich with the mockery of, and playing with, stereotypes. Has Mr. Foxman never heard Lenny Bruce or Larry David or Sarah Silverman...? Lena Dunham is a comic voice working in that vein."

Singer Robin Thicke's marriage to actress Paula Patton will be officially declared over next month (Apr15) after the estranged couple reached a split settlement.
The Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol beauty separated from the "Blurred Lines" hitmaker in early 2014 after almost nine years as husband and wife, and despite Thicke's public efforts to win Patton back, she filed legal papers to formally end their relationship in October (14), citing "irreconcilable differences". Patton filed new documents in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday (17Mar15), revealing the high school sweethearts had signed off on deals regarding the ownership of shared property, custody of their four-year-old son Julian and spousal and child support.
Details of the settlement are private, but the divorce will now be finalised on 14 April (15), according to TMZ.com. Patton recently opened up about her tough 2014, but insisted she is "doing really well." She added, "It's been challenging but it's been a year of growth, lots of healing. Learning about all new things, but I've come out of it stronger... I feel like everything happens for a reason and then you have to move on and grow from there." The news of the divorce development is the latest blow for Thicke - he is also fighting a copyright infringement ruling over his "Blurred Lines" chart smash after he and superproducer Pharrell Williams were ordered to pay $7.3 million (£4.9 million) to Marvin Gaye's kids following a recent two week trial, which concluded with a judge ruling the hitmakers had illegally sampled Gaye's 1977 song Got To Give It Up.

R&amp;B star Rihanna is flattered to become the first black spokesmodel for Dior, insisting the groundbreaking gig is "such a big deal" for "girls of any color".
The "Stay" hitmaker was unveiled as the new face of the style and cosmetics giant on Friday (13Mar14) and the singer cannot contain her excitement about the new endorsement deal, as she hopes it will break down barriers for models of all races in the fashion industry.
She tells MTV News, "It feels fantastic. It is such a big deal for me, for my culture, for a lot of young girls of any colour. "I think to be acknowledged by Dior means a lot, as a woman, to feel beautiful - to feel elegant and timeless." The 27-year-old singer will appear in Dior's fourth instalment of the Secret Garden film campaign, which she recently shot at Versailles in Paris, this spring (15). Other famous faces for Dior include Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence.

Actress Paula Patton has opened up about her divorce from Robin Thicke, insisting she has emerged "stronger" because "everything happens for a reason".
The Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol beauty separated from singer Thicke in early 2014 after almost nine years of marriage. Thicke spent the months following their split publicly pleading with his high school sweetheart to take him back, even naming his last album, Paula, after her, but Patton shunned a reunion and filed court papers to formally end their relationship in October (14). She has now spoken out about the tough break-up in a candid interview with U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America.
In the chat, which aired on Friday (06Mar15), she says, "I'm doing really well. It's been challenging but it's been a year of growth, lots of healing. Learning about all new things, but I've come out of it stronger...
"I feel like everything happens for a reason and then you have to move on and grow from there."
Patton claims looking towards the positives in her life has helped her overcome her love struggles, as well as spending time with the former couple's four-year-old son, Julian. She continues, "The truth is it's hard for me to say this, because I don't always do this, but it's being grateful for what you have (which has pulled her through). It's so easy for all of us to focus on the negative things, but usually, the positive in your life outweighs that and you have to just be thankful for what you have right now and that's what I try to work on.
"My son also helps me with that. The thing is that you can't wallow in sadness or stay in bed when you have a child, and they're so full of life and wonder and he brings me so much joy."

Ever super famous actors can be embarrassed by their mothers. Last night on The Tonight Show, Ansel Elgort told the best story we've ever heard about what his mother did at the 2015 Oscars.
NBC/hypable.tumblr.com
Ansel, star of 2014's mega-hit The Fault In Our Stars, stopped by Jimmy Fallon's show to promote his new film, Insurgent (sequel to last year's Divergent), which comes out later this month. But what was more interesting was the story he told from his trip to the Oscars 2 weeks ago. Being the total sweetie that he is, Ansel brought his mother as his guest to the event. After the ceremony was over, there were parties to attend, which is the perfect setting for a mom to be such a Mom. Cue hilariously embarrassing moment.
Watch Ansel tell the hysterical story:
NBC/YouTube
"Mom, you're embarrassing me!" We're actually crying real tears right now, it's that funny. Only a mom could be so oblivious, yet so proud of their child at the same time. Kudos Mama Elgort, we love you!
Follow @hollywood_comFollow @analuisasrz

Patricia Arquette's rallying cry for equal pay for women at the Oscars has won the backing of U.S. politician Hillary Clinton.
The former U.S. Secretary of State and First Lady has thrown her support behind Arquette after she spoke out about the issue at the Academy Awards on Sunday (22Feb15), when she picked up the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role in Boyhood.
Arquette told the star-studded audience, "To every woman who gave birth, to every tax payer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights, it's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America!"
Clinton, who is rumored to be a future presidential candidate, endorsed Arquette's message during a speech at a technology conference in California on Tuesday (24Feb15), saying, "Many women are paid less for the same work, which is why I think we all cheered at Patricia Arquette's speech at the Oscars because she's right - it's time to have wage equality once and for all."
After her speech, Arquette came under fire from some users on Twitter.com who accused the star of failing to understand the realities facing downtrodden working women because of her Hollywood priviledge, but the actress hit back writing, "Don't talk to me about privilege. As a kid I lived well below the poverty line. No matter where I am I won't forget women's struggle... I was a working single mom at 20. I know how hard it is to pay for diapers and food. Explain why women should be paid less?... The working poor women of this country have been asking for help for decades. If I have 'privilege' or a voice I will shine a light on them."

Ariana Grande has taken a stand against a cyberbully who poked fun at pop star's body.
An Internet troll took aim at Grande's small backside after she posted a clip of her NBA All-Star game half-time performance with Nicki Minaj online on Sunday (15Feb15), and the singer has fired back by confronting the critic.
She writes, "ppl (people) are so ignorant sometimes. stop trying to make people feel badly about their bodies. its (sic) okay to be different... to be curvy or to be thin. when did it become socially acceptable to comment on what you think is 'wrong' with other people's bodies?? we were having fun! dancing on stage.
"i'm shaking my pretty, cute, petite a** next to nicki's pretty, big booty. both are f**king awesome. how about we respect people's body boundaries and encourage each other to feel like a babe no matter how they are?
"That's be (sic) nice. so tired of watching everyone try to tear each other down."

Robin Williams' children feel "heartbroken" after their stepmother filed legal papers to contest the late star's will.
The Mrs. Doubtfire actor's widow Susan Schneider is locked in a court battle with his three grown-up children from previous marriages, Zak, Zelda and Cody, over possessions he bequeathed to them.
In legal papers filed at San Francisco Superior Court in California in December (14), Schneider asks to keep hold of the contents of the home she shared with Williams prior to his death last year (14), including jewellery and memorabilia which her husband left to the children. She also claims a number of items were removed from the house without her permission.
The children have hit back at Schneider in their own court papers, insisting they feel "heartbroken" by her decision to thrash out the argument over the movie star's belongings in court. They claim their stepmother has withheld some of their father's belongings from them, and accuse her of trying to interfere with his final wishes.
The papers state, "The Williams children are heartbroken that the petitioner, Mr. Williams' wife of less than three years, has acted against his wishes by challenging the plans he so carefully made for his estate," adding that the filing, "adds insult to terrible injury... (and is a means to) prevent them from receiving what their father wanted them to receive."
The case will go to court on 30 March (15). Williams committed suicide at his home in California in August (14) at the age of 63.

Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell shocked fans at a basketball game in New Orleans, Louisiana on Wednesday night (21Jan15) when he was carried out of the arena by security guards as part of a stunt for a movie.
The actor filmed a scene for new comedy Daddy's Home during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in the Big Easy.
Ferrell walked on to the court in character at half-time to attempt a half-court shot, but he missed and smacked one of the cheerleaders in the face with the ball.
The actor was then wrestled to the ground and carried out of the stadium by a team of security guards. Footage posted online shows Ferrell filming the scene, and at the end of the shoot, the announcer thanks the crowd for their "participation" and their "patience".

Robin Thicke's estranged wife Paula Patton has been tapped to testify as part of a court battle over the singer's pop anthem Blurred Lines.
The star and his collaborator Pharrell Williams are embroiled in a legal dispute over allegations they sampled music by Marvin Gaye in the 2013 chart smash, and the case is set to head to trial. Court documents relating to the case have now revealed that Patton, who split from Thicke last year (14), has been tapped to testify. The actress has been listed as a witness, according to TMZ.com.
Gaye's heirs are fighting for damages over claims Blurred Lines samples the late soul legend's song Got to Give it Up, while they also allege Thicke used parts of another track, After the Dance, in 2011 ballad Love After War, which the pop singer is believed to have worked on with Patton.

Summary

Adriana Barraza was an established actor, producer and director in her native Mexico and in the Spanish-language television world before coming to American attention in acclaimed dramas from fellow countryman, Alejandro González Iñárritu. Barraza's two-plus decade career in Mexico included a great deal of directing on telenovelas, as well as on the influential television series, "Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real," (Televisa, Univision, 1985- ). However she also earned a reputation as a distinguished stage and screen actress. Barraza's first English language role - playing the nanny of an American couple who finds herself trapped on the other side of the border with her young charges in "Babel" (2006) - earned the actress Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations and piqued the interest of a slew of international directors. Following her American film breakout, Barraza appeared in British director Sally Potter's "Rage" (2009) and Sam Raimi's "Drag Me to Hell" (2009), and continued to offer powerful, multi-dimensional portraits of the types of immigrant women often reduced to clichéd stereotypes by Hollywood.

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Served as Vice President in Neutral Accent and Acting Development for the Telemundo Network.